Thursday, August 27, 2015

Sat 22 Aug - Great Keppel Island
We took Rosie ashore in the semi darkness at 5.45am. The other two boats left - we made the dash to the beach and back almost at low tide then stowed Bob and the outboard. Then the skipper freaked me out saying the others looked to be going very slowly and queried if it was deep enough. Anyway needless stress, there was plenty of water and we were out heading for Cape Capricorn - seas not great but not too bad. We put the main up and motor sailed in building seas. By the time we got to Cape Capricorn it was obvious it would be untenanble in the NE winds. The other two boats kept going and so did we. Seas 2 - 3 metres, rainy and the crew a little seedy. Rosie fine sleeping in her bed on the cockpit floor. We were heading around the corner of the island and then saw the cat head for a beach so we went there too and anchored at 5pm - another torrid eleven hour day. We took Rosie ashore and she really wanted to run but we just wanted to fall in a heap. Got wet getting Bob back out. Was a litle bit rolly but not too bad. Fell into bed wondering what the heck we are doing! Rained most of the night.
Miles: 68 TTT : 314

Sunday 23 - Great Keppel Island
Went for a walk along the very long beach called Long Beach (!) and walked over the headland to where the other boat anchored ni Monkey Bay. We went back and bought the boat around there too. Anchored in sight of the resort and can see Roslyn Bay across the way. There is a reef and its really quite nice. Quite a few boats in. Took the bathoscope and checked out the reef.

Monday 24 - Great Keppel Island
Took Bob around to the resort area. The colour of the water is beautiful. Had a walk around the big main resort which is still closed and fenced off. Saw the cyclone affected beach and a couple of cyclone affected houses. A tree snake was sunning itself near the boardwalk. Rosie gave us a scare today. She was walking through really soft sand and all of a sudden her hip just gave way and she couldnt walk. Carried her for a while then she seemed to come good. When we got back to the boat she seemed to be worrying her foot so I held her while the skipper cut out a huge burr. She screamed so loud the next boat thought we were murdering her! Had a late walk along the beach and she was fine.

Tuesday 25 - Great Keppel Island
A NW wind was forecast so we moved back around to Long Beach and walked to the end of the beach. Quite a few boats have come around and there were lots or people walking up and down the beach. Such a lovely beach, the water such a lovely colour and the sand so white. Rosie was exhausted after chasing her ball and socialising. Our internet hadnt been working well then Al off Sasu told us my smart phone could run the internet on the computer which was news to us but by jove he was right! We went in the late aternoon and met up with a few other boats for sundowners. There is a family of five on the biggest cat - it is huge. They took their kids out of school for a term so they can do this. We had a lovely evening and the kids built a fire so we sat around the fire.

Wednesday 26 - Great Keppel Island
Rosie had a terrible night vomiting and shivering and shaking. We thought we might lose her. She wouldnt drink so we went ashore with our chairs and her cushion for a few hours so she could have some off boat time. She slept for ages and then started to come good. We think she must have eaten something on the beach last night. It takes 35 minutes to walk from one end of Long Beach to the other - very pleasant. By the time we got back to the boat Rosie was fine. Glen off Seasalt (another Ganley) visited in the afternoon and then it was time for sundowners on the beach! Another lovely evening and a feed of garfish for dinner. There are 16 boats in and only two of them are cats which is unusual.

Thurday 27 - Great Keppel Island
Bit of a clean up then we went ashore to walk the 2km to the resort. Rosie went into her specially made backpack and was perfectly happy perched up there. It was a good walk. A few people took photos of Rosie in her backpack. We walked back a different way and then had a swim - it was a bit brisk! Tomorrow we are going o head up towards Pearl Bay. There's not any good winds forecast but it is time to move on. This has been an absolutely beautiful spot.

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Sun 16 Aug - Bundaberg - Pancake Creek
We left at 5am in the dark but it is easy to get out of Bundaberg beause it is lit up like a runway. Motor sailed and when the sun came up put the mainsail up and had a great sail til about lunch time when the wind dropped out and then came strongly from behind. The seas built up to 2 - 3 metres and it got very rough. We came past 1770 and thats where we should have cut in to the coast but we stayed out to go around the big rocks and it was truly horrible. Took the main down - we should have left that till we got in but didnt! Anyway we finally got in at 4pm at high tide and took Rosie over to the sandspit. She was very relieved!
Miles : 64 TTT : 245

Mon 17 Aug - Pancake Creek
Took Rosie ashore and met a man who was camped on the beach and had been here for two weeks. He had rowed around from 1770 - took him 5 1/2 hours. He told us of the reef and where to catch fish and oysters. Didnt find the oysters! Had a walk along the sandspit in the afternoon. It is all under water at high tide and at low tide is completely exposed The skipper did some fishing and caught a small flathead and threw it back. Just on sunset he took Bob in a bit and caught two good bream so we had fish for dinner with the fresh bread he had baked today. There are about ten boats in here.

Tues 18 Aug - Pancake Creek
Went ashore and walked around the sand and rocks which Rosie really enjoyed. Then we went out and had a look at the reef. It was fairly clear and we also had the bathescope to look through. Then did some trolling out around the point. Took the parasol for Rosie!! Had a bit of a boat cleanup. Sasu visited for sundowners. Boats left and five stayed.

Wed 19 Aug - Pancake Creek
Took Rosie for her walk and it was very windy and forecast to get windier so we decided to move further into Pancake Creek. It is a narrow channel between the sandbanks. We followed the red and green buoys and the lead lines in and found a good spot to anchor. There are two trimerans which we thought Phil would have been iterested in. One had a carbon fibre sail with two men on each. Took a couple of walks along the beach then Rosie and I sat under the parasol on the shore while the skipper fished - tiddlers only! A lovely day.
Miles : 1.6 TTT 246

Thurs 20 Aug - Pancake Creek
Very windy. Had a couple of walks on the beach and a play on the sandspit. Rosie is very well. We have stopped giving her her medication and she has stopped yelping when we touch her. In fact, she gets passd between us quite a lot and doesnt mind at all. Loves going in the tender and has been running on the beach. Have set the saloon up so she can walk from our bed to the two saloon chairs and can jump down into her bed. She sleeps a lot when we get back but she is so much better than she was at home.

A couple of boats came in from out the front as it was very windy. Then the last one, a cat came in and promptly hit a sandbank and reversed off and nearly hit another yacht. Hit the sandbank on the other side and then almost ran over a trimeran. He came up beside the tri so the tri skipper jumped on board the cat and ran to the helm and motored it off. We can only think the cat skipper was inside trying to helm from there. The tri skipper tried to get all the seaweed off the anchor but ended up dipping the anchor and driving forward. Then he anchored the cat in a good spot and the cat skipper took the tri skipper back to his boat. It looked a pretty new cat!

Fri 21 Aug - Pancake Creek
Had the obligatory walk along the beach. Then it started raining and is overcast. Listened to the weather on the HF radio and tomorrow looks like being a reasonable day so we will get out of here on the high tide and move further out ready for an early start in the morning to try to reach Keppel Island. The cat skipper left his morning, the only boat to do so. Hope he had a good trip.

Currently at Great Keppell - more on that next week - internet connection is nor good - think its our dongle!

Saturday, August 15, 2015

WEEK 1 : Bribie to Bundaberg
Sat 8 Aug : Bribie - Mooloolaba
We left our new mooring buoy at Bribie Island at 6.40am. Motor sailed and arrived Mooloolaba at 12.45pm. There were a few shallow spots but we continued on down the river and finally found a place to anchor amongst a lot of other boats. We went ashore and walked down to the sea front. The place was buzzing and so busy. Rosie enjoyed seeing all the people. We went ashore again later in the evening and I took Rosie for a walk while the skipper got some tasty fish and chips. We put Bob and the outboard on board and had an early night. A very pleasant day.
Miles: 32

Sun 9 Aug : Mooloolaba - Inskip Point
We departed in the dark at 4.35am wending our way through unlit boats with the skiper at the front with a torch and the crew at the helm yelling I cant see! When we got into the river proper the crew went forward with the torch while the skipper took us out. It was really cold and I didnt take my beanie off til 2pm! Overcast, lumpy, sloppy seas - uncomfortable long day. Saw some whales further out breaching and some tail slaps then a whale about 50 metres away. Then one came up about 10 feet in front of us and swam in front of the boat. We had to take a sharp turn to port to avoid it! Saw some more breaching whales as we came round Double Island Point heading for the Wide Bay Bar We had the co-ordinants for the crossing but noticed on the chartplotter that other boats had gone further north. When we got to that point there was breaking surf where we were supposed to go so the skipper also took us about 200 metres north and then it was what they call the mad mile. A mile which goes on the inside of the surf breaking on a sandbar - much rocking from side to side! We were very happy to anchor at Inskip Point at 3.45pm.
Miles : 62 Total This Trip : 94 miles

Mon 10 Aug - Inskip Point
We went ashore and Rosie just ran and ran like the joyous little dog she was when she was young. It was so lovely to watch. We then walked long the sand flats where she kept her eye open for fish to catch. But we had to carry her back! Her enrfgy was spent! It was a lovely day - still a chill wind but sun shining and a lovely spot. Very different to how we felt the last time we were here trying to get home! We went ashore again in the afternoon and had an early night. A strong wind warning has been issued for Wednesday so we will have to move.

Tues 11 Aug - Inskip Point - Gary's Anchorage
We left Inskip at 6.30am in a pea soup fog. Couldnt see a thing. The beanies came out again! We followed our track from our previous trip and motored against the current to Gary's Achorage. It was a falling tide but the lowest we went down to on the way in was about 1.3 metres under the keel so all good. There were quite a few other boats in so we anchored in the middle of the channel. We went ashore and met a few other boat crews, one of whom also had a small friend like Rosie. We walked along the shore. Such a lovely day. Interesting to see a few people have little friends. In the afternoon it came up very windy and with wind agains tide boats were going every which way. A couple had to reanchor and a couple left to find a better spot. We are now tucked away here awaiting the big blow. Hopefully it wll be strong enough to keep us all facing the same way.
Miles : 13 TTT : 107

Wed 12 Aug - Gary's Anchorage
It was like a millpond this morning so we took Rosie ashore. The strong wind warning is still current for tonight. Wind came up around 10am and blew quite strongly. Had a reading day. We took Rosie ashore and got soaked on the way back. Lightning all around us in the evening an then it rained. Very blowy but ok. A good night.

Thurs 13 Aug - Gary's Anchorage
Still a strong wind warning but like a millpond. We went with Sasu to Water Music (a most beautiful Catelina 44) for morning tea and good company. Saw a dingo on the beach where we have been taking Rosie in so took her further up below the cliffs. No wind at all. Quiet night, very cold.

Fri 14 Aug - Garys Anchorage - Kingfisher Resort
Took Rosie ashore at 6.30am and we left at 7am and followed our track out. Came through the Great Sandy Straits and our previous track (on the chart plotter) was very useful. Came through the shallowest spot at full tide and continued down past the resort and anchored. A dugong dived in front of the boat and we had heaps of large turtles surfacing. Took Rosie ashore and played ball till we wore her out. Back to the boat and sat on the deck reading in the sunshine. Such a beautiful day. The dugong surfaced and we saw its head and whole body - amazing! Another boat took their friend ashore and then we could hear a dingo howling. They came back to their boat an we saw the (vey well fed looking) dingo walk along the beach to where they had been and it just lay there howling for a bit. It is very cold when the sun goes down and we can still hear the dingo howling.
Miles : 21 TTT : 128

Sat 15 Aug - Kingfisher Resort - Bundaberg
It was very cold when we left at 6.30am thinking we would have enough wind to blow us to Bundaberg but it dropped out after a couple of hours and it was a motor job after that. However, a beautiful day and flat seas. The sea was sparkling on the water like thousands of little diamonds. We have discovered that we have lost all our tracks for our travels further north from here so will have to make new tracks!!! by the way, no fish yet!!! Arrived Bundaberg Burnett River at 4pm and took a desperate Rosie ashore Currently sitting peacefully in the river as the sun goes down.
Miles: 53 TTT : 181

To follow us check out www.skipr.net and look for boat Pacific Express

Dell, Peter & Pacific Express

About Us and Our Boat

Pacific Express is a 38 foot steel Ganley Timerider sloop with a 1.8m draft built in New Zealand in 1987. We purchased her Christmas 2004. We have completed the 2009 Indonesian Rally and cruised Thailand. In 2011 we joined the Sail Malaysia to the East rally and saw Borneo and Brunei. 2012 we have circumnavigated Palawan in the Philippines. We have included our anchorages for the Australian coast 2008 & 2009 and our Indonesian and Malaysian anchorages with lats and longs - they appear in the January 2010 entries. We arrived back at Newport Marina, Brisbane on 9th December 2012.